Timing chains installation test

Other than following the instructions from the manual WHILE DOING IT, is there a method to test the timing chains installation AFTER THE FACT? Like you delegated the task to an employee and now you have to come see he did it right.

When installing the camshafts, one design flaw that inhibited testing, as I observed, was that, while the dot market on the exhaust camshafts was still visible, the view to the one on the intake side was blocked on the front by the VVT phaser drum and in the back by the first (largest) bearing. So, to verify that whoever did it did it right, you need another testing method, which I am sure must exist.

I understand the generic advice "do it right when doing it" (or some variation thereof) but being able to test any technical product before committing to the stage where mistakes are costly is an integral part of any quality product lifecycle.

 

The only other 2 "verification" methods of timing aside from timing mark alignment would be a cam/crank sensor waveform scope capture compared to a known good or in cylinder pressure waveform both would require the engine to be cranking or running.
If you put the colored links in the correct positions when you assembled it there's really no way for it to get out of time without jumping teeth.

 

Crank:



Right:



Left:

 

Is there some pids you could see on a scan tool that would show correlation? I've used that on VW/audi.. not sure about toyota

Other than that or a scope capture all I can think of is just driving it and hoping it doesn't code

All you have is visual /mechanical reference until everything is reassembled and running

 

This is important, let's get professional advice.
@Bishop84
@Empty_Lord

 

It looks good according to this
https://www.toyoheadquarters.com/threads/toyota-1gr-fe-timing-chain-marks-4-0l.694/

 

FWIW, you don’t show the crank key correlation to the block timing line.
But your picture looks about right for where the dot should be.

 

It's good, can't confirm the secondary marks.

As a back up I always want to see TDC on cylinder #1 to have both valves equally closed. So cam lobes opposed.

I'm doing a tundra chain right now, I'll snap a pic tomorrow.

 

Looks fine off what I remember on the 1GR

 

From what I recall, it takes like 6-8 full revolutions of the chain to have the color coded links and crank match up.

When I put everything back together I rotated it to make double sure.

 

Correct. After the original alignment of the three marked links on the chain and the notches/dots on the crank and cam sprockets, it takes something like what you said (maybe 7) full revolutions of the no. 1 (big) chain (so not just of the crank) to get the same alignment again.

 

If your marks all line up and you installed/torqued everything properly you should be good to go.

 

I get that and they are indeed -- I was just wondering about other testing methods.

Like, for example, since 1GR-FE is an interference engine, would a mistake in timing necessarily always result in an interference, which could be timely and cheaply detected by a stall when turning the crankshaft, i.e. much before firing up the engine? Or is there a scenario where that does not happen but the timing is still wrong?

 

You would have to be quite a few teeth out of time before interference would occur but you would feel it get tight barring the engine over by hand with the plugs removed if something was hitting.

 

it can take MANY more turns than that to get colored markings to line up on all 3 chains. Colored markings should only be used as a reference, the end all is the mark on the crank to block then marks on cam gears to head.

 

Are you putting an engine back together by asking each step on a new thread @foampile ? I see lots of separate threads where it seems you are lacking the knowledge and maybe better off taking to a mechanic.

 

I think it started here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/physically-broken-camshaft-position-sensor.612685/

 

Should have just kept one thread going. Could have maybe been an informative timing chain and cam shaft replacement thread.

Need a general "ask a pro" sticky for each gen.?

 

Those “ask a Pro” threads never work out. 90% of the time you’ll get advice from guys that aren’t pro’s.

50% of the answer is not even relative to the question.

And No, I’m not a Pro.

 

I agree, I see 3 or 4 threads on what appear to be the same topic and I gave up on answering the smattering of questions that could be combined in one thread.